1957 Topps #52 Lee Walls
About Lee Walls
Ray Lee Walls Jr. (1933–1993), nicknamed "Captain Midnight" for the eyeglasses he wore on the field — a rarity in his era — signed with Pittsburgh in February 1951 out of Pasadena City College and debuted for the Pirates at 19 in 1952. His first full season came in 1956, when he hit .274 with 11 triples, third in the National League. This card caught him just in time: on May 1, 1957, the Pirates traded Walls and Dale Long to the Cubs for Dee Fondy and Gene Baker. He blossomed in Chicago, hitting for the cycle on July 2, 1957, then breaking out in 1958 with a .304 average, 24 home runs, and an All-Star selection — highlighted by a three-homer, eight-RBI game against the Dodgers at the LA Coliseum on April 24. Walls finished a 10-year career (.262, 66 HR) with the Reds, Phillies, and Dodgers, later coaching first base for Billy Martin's Oakland A's (1979–82).
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 512 | 0 | 25 | 173 | 152 | 104 | 36 | 22 | 0 |
| SGC | 34 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Live auctions Buy It Now Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More Pittsburgh Pirates cards:
- #3 Dale Long
- #12 Dick Groat
- #24 Bill Mazeroski
- #76 Roberto Clemente
- #104 Hank Foiles
- #110 Bill Virdon
- #140 Frank Thomas
- #150 Bob Friend
- #161 Pittsburgh Pirates
- #166 Roy Face
- #199 Vern Law
- #209 Bob Skinner
- #234 Dick Cole
- #256 Ron Kline
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Lee Walls card?
It is card #52 of the 1957 Topps Baseball set - the 407-card, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inch set that was Topps' first at the modern standard card size, with full-color photography and complete career stats on the back. It pictures Lee Walls, Pittsburgh Pirates.
How many cards are in the 1957 Topps set?
407 numbered cards. Collectors usually count 408 because #176 Gene Baker exists in an error ('Bakep') and a corrected back. The PSA master set adds the 8 checklists, 4 contest cards and the Lucky Penny for 421 items.
Sources: PSA CardFacts, Beckett, BaseballCardPedia, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research (Net54 / Topps Archives). Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-13.